Download Waitakere City Biodiversity Report 2007

WAITAKERE CITY
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | 2007
ENHANCING URBAN NATURE THROUGH A GLOBAL NETWORK OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
The Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) Project is a 3-year project which was
initiated by the City of Cape Town, supported by the eThekwini Municipality
(Durban), and developed in conjunction with ICLEI – Local Governments
for Sustainability and partners. ICLEI is an international association of local
governments, and national and regional local government organisations that
have made a commitment to sustainable development. LAB is a project within
ICLEI's biodiversity programme, which aims to assist local governments in
their efforts to conserve and sustainably manage biodiversity.
Local Action for Biodiversity involves a select number of cities worldwide
and focuses on exploring the best ways for local governments to engage in
urban biodiversity conservation, enhancement, utilisation and management.
The Project aims to facilitate understanding, communication and support
among decision-makers, citizens and other stakeholders regarding urban
biodiversity issues and the need for local action. It emphasises integration
of biodiversity considerations into planning and decision-making processes.
Some of the specific goals of the Project include demonstrating best practice
urban biodiversity management; provision of documentation and development
of biodiversity management and implementation tools; sourcing funding
from national and international agencies for biodiversity-related development
projects; and increasing global awareness of the importance of biodiversity
at the local level.
The Local Action for Biodiversity Project is hosted within the ICLEI Africa
Secretariat at the City of Cape Town, South Africa, and partners with ICLEI,
IUCN, Countdown 2010, the South African National Biodiversity Institute
(SANBI), and RomaNatura. For more information, please visit www.iclei.org/lab
FOREWORD
Waitakere City is blessed with a unique natural heritage. The city’s
landscape is stunning; dominated by native forest and surrounded by
sea. The Waitakere coastline varies from rugged West Coast beaches,
world-renowned as surf beaches, to the sheltered bays with mangrove
mudflats and sand bars of the Manukau and Waitemata Harbours.
At the City’s heart, the Waitakere Ranges are a valued natural resource for the entire Auckland
region. It is a place that Aucklanders feel very special about. It is their touchstone with nature and
their place of wilderness. The large continuous forested area is botanically rich with a high diversity
of native flora and fauna, including regionally threatened and at-risk species.
Recreationally, the Ranges are a mecca for walkers and trampers. The Ranges are also important
from a cultural perspective in terms of their M āori and European history. This iconic backdrop to
Auckland draws 2.5 million visitors a year from all over the region, inspired by recreational, artistic
and cultural endeavours, and a love of nature – all within the context of being only a 30-minute
drive from Auckland’s commercial centre.
Not only has Waitakere’s biodiversity come under pressure from human activity over the past 1000
years, it will also have to meet the challenge of climate change effects over the next 100 years.
In 2004, Waitakere was one of the first four councils in New Zealand to join the Communities for
Climate Protection programme; a programme delivered by the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). Now Waitakere City Council
is pleased to have become a member of the Local Action for
Biodiversity (LAB) project under the ICLEI umbrella. These
international relationships are critical for sharing knowledge and
finding new ways to care for our planet.
Bob Harvey
Mayor of Waitakere
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
1
CONTENTS
2
PREFACE
3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4
LOCALITY MAP
5
1.
ECOLOGY
6
1.1
Biodiversity Definition
6
1.2
Biodiversity Map
6
1.3
Biodiversity Description
8
1.4
Threats to Biodiversity
19
1.5
Biodiversity Management
20
2.
GOVERNANCE
28
2.1
Biodiversity in City Management
28
2.2
Biodiversity Projects
29
3.
INTEGRATION
32
3.1
Interaction with Other Agencies
32
3.2
International Biodiversity Initiatives
32
4.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS
33
4.1
Public Participation and Access
33
4.2
Biodiversity Awareness-Raising/Education Projects
33
CONCLUSION
34
REFERENCES
35
GLOSSARY
36
ACRONYMS
36
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
PREFACE
This document forms part of a set of biodiversity reports produced by participant cities of the Local Action
for Biodiversity (LAB) Project. It represents a critical starting point: a status quo assessment of biodiversity
and its management in each LAB city.
Each biodiversity report covers four key themes*, namely:
• Ecology
• Governance
• Integration
• Participation.
Each biodiversity report will be drawn upon to contribute significant and useful information for the
compilation, by the LAB Project Team, of a Biodiversity Toolkit document. This document will contain best
practice theory and examples, principles, strategies etc. for use by cities to better manage and integrate
biodiversity into planning. The Toolkit will in turn contribute towards further steps in the LAB process.
The five steps in the LAB process are as follows:
Step 1: Development of a biodiversity report that documents the current state of biodiversity and its
management within each city
Step 2: Ensuring long-term commitment by city leadership to sustainable biodiversity management
through LAB cities formally signing a local government biodiversity declaration
Step 3: Development of a 10-year biodiversity action plan and framework that will include commitments
to biodiversity implementation plans and integration within broader city plans
Step 4: LAB cities’ formal acceptance of their 10-year biodiversity action plans and frameworks
Step 5: Implementation of five new on-the-ground biodiversity interventions by the end of the
three-year project.
These reports create a unique opportunity for profiling the importance of urban biodiversity, and innovation
in its management, on a global scale. They are the foundation not only of the long-term plans that each city
will develop to enhance, protect and develop their urban biodiversity, but also collectively form the basis for
the development of LAB as a highly effective global urban biodiversity initiative.
LAB Project Team
May 2007
Cape Town
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*Some cities’ Biodiversity Reports do not follow this specific order or these specific headings
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ECOLOGY
Waitakere’s biodiversity has undergone considerable modification particularly during the past 160 years. Protection
of remnant forest patches in Waitakere began in 1940 with the establishment of a 3,000-hectare scenic park in the
Waitakere Ranges; the Centennial Memorial Park. Since the 1940s, the area of land under protection for conservation
purposes has increased. Since 1993, rules to protect bush and wildlife on private property have been in place under the
Waitakere City District Plan.
Today, species previously lost from Waitakere are gradually being introduced to predator-free areas in the Waitakere
Ranges. Hopefully, the more strongly protected Waitakere Ranges will provide an on-going refuge for wildlife and act
as a major seed source for the rest of Waitakere.
GOVERNANCE
The Department of Conservation manages and administers national parks throughout New Zealand, and regulates all
matters relating to indigenous wildlife. The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) manages and administers the Waitakere
Ranges Regional Park, part of which is leased to WaterCare for water catchment and supply purposes. ARC
also protects and administers Auckland’s heritage, including biodiversity, in conjunction with the Department of
Conservation and territorial authorities such as Waitakere City Council.
Waitakere City Council manages and administers the local reserves, some of which are scenic reserves for conservation
purposes. The Council also supports community groups and volunteers in restoring and protecting natural areas in
public and private ownership.
INTEGRATION
Waitakere City Council together with the ARC and local Members of Parliament have promoted and championed the
Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill to protect and manage the Waitakere Ranges and Foothills, which encompasses
both private land and public land. The public land includes the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, water catchment area
and local reserves.
A key volunteer group, Ark in the Park, is supported by the Auckland Regional Council and the Royal Forest
and Bird Protection Society but also works through the Department of Conservation for its capture, re-location and
release of threatened species.
PARTICIPATION
Public participation in biodiversity management is facilitated through the many volunteer programmes supported by
the Auckland Regional Council and centred around the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, and by Waitakere City
Council focussing on the streams and parks in Waitakere. Waitakere City Council also encourages restoration of private
land through its Green Network Community Assistance Programme
Aware-raising and education is achieved through involving local schools and the community in the Wai Care stream
monitoring programme and in Project Twin Streams restoration programme.
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BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
LOCALITY MAP
Waitakere City
New Zealand
New Zealand in the world
Map 1: Waitakere City, New Zealand.
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1. ECOLOGY
1.1 BIODIVERSITY
DEFINITION
Biodiversity for Waitakere City is the
variety of all biological life occurring
naturally in Waitakere – plants,
animals, fungi and micro-organisms
– the genes they contain and the
ecosystems on land or in water
where they live. It includes species
diversity, genetic diversity, and
ecosystem diversity and includes
endemic (occurring naturally only
in Waitakere) and indigenous biodiversity, but not introduced species.
1.2 BIODIVERSITY MAP
The range of species varies across
Waitakere according to aspect and
topography. The west coast is exposed
to predominant south-westerly winds
blowing uninterruptedly across the
Tasman Sea. The Waitakere Ranges
to the west catch the rain clouds
and precipitate rain into the forested
areas around the water catchment
dams. The Waitakere Ranges in turn
provide some shelter for the eastern
lowlands from the westerly winds.
Consequently, different tree species
are found in the different climatic
areas. Waitakere City comprises this
whole area. The city has been mapped
into these different ecosystem areas
and typified with the predominant
tree and predominant bird species as
shown in Map 2, right:
1
Pohutukawa – Oi
Exposed Coastal Ecosystem
2
Manuka – Kahu
Stormy Coastal Hill Ecosystem
3
Kowhai – Kotare
Harbour Coastline Ecosystem
4
Puriri – Kereru
Warm Lowlands Ecosystem
5
Kiekie – Miromiro
High Rainfall Hills Ecosystem
6
Rimu – Ruru
Uplands Ecosystem
These have been named after a predominant
tree and bird species in each area
Total area = 367km2
Map 2: Waitakere Ecosystems.
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BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
WAITAKERE ECOSYSTEMS
Stormy Coastal Hill Ecosystem
Exposed Coastal Ecosystem
Tough fleshy leaves of
pohutukawa and houpara,
hairy waxy leaves of spinifex
grass withstand the rugged
salty environment of the
exposed coastal ecosystem.
Pohutukawa on the rocks,
spinifex on the sand and
the houpara in the gullies.
Each species has its preferred
habitat.
Harbour Coastline Ecosystem
Less salty than the exposed
coastal ecosystem, the
Stormy Coastal Hills
ecosystem is still a rugged
climatic environment.
Warm Lowlands Ecosystem
A diverse array of luxuriant
growth and forest communities
feature in the lowlands. Kauri
on ridges, rainforest with
occasional puriri on slopes,
kahikatea and lush nikau
groves in valley bottoms.
Interspersed are special
habitats such as the bluff
community at the Cascades
complete with its own
assemblage of species.
Kowhai overhang a shell
bank, karaka and kohekohe
grow in the damper shadows
in the sheltered harbour
coastline environment. Here
pohutukawa is limited to a
narrow fringe on exposed
sites. Coastal karamu
(Coprosma macrocarpa) and
coastal astelia proclaim the
character of this environment.
High Rainfall Hills Ecosystem
Abundant rimu, Hall’s totara,
miro and kiekie are features
of the high rainfall ecosystem.
An excellent example is
growing here on the Scenic
Drive near the transmitter
dome (north of TV transmitter).
Note the canopy of ancient
rimu on the skyline.
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Uplands Ecosystem
Head in the clouds, these
ancient rimu and rata stand
proud above an uplands
forest canopy that includes
cold tolerant tawheowheo
(Quintinia) and toro
(Myrsine salicina). These
hardy species often have
red or purple leaves.
7
Level of protection
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park is public
open space protected in perpetuity as a
scenic park for the Auckland region, and
administered by the Auckland Regional
Council (ARC). There is a publicly consulted
management plan that details how the
different areas are to be managed and used
for recreational activities. The park covers
an area of 160km 2 and encompasses
regenerating native bush, coastal wetlands
and dune systems as well as the water
catchment area containing dams and
reservoirs that provide Waitakere with a
potable water supply.
The Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area
comprises the Waitakere Ranges Regional
Park and surrounding privately owned rural
residential land including the foothills. The
forests of the Regional Park extend on to
adjacent private land in the Ranges and
continue down through the foothills and along
the streams in remnant patches. The heritage
area totals more than 270km2. The ecological,
heritage and landscape values of the area
are protected under special legislation which
is currently going through the parliamentary
process as the Waitakere Ranges Heritage
Area Bill. The Bill identifies the area of concern,
describes the ecological, heritage and landscape values and sets a vision with long-term
Map 3: Areas of Waitakere City under formal protection.
goals for the protection of the values identified.
The Bill sets out to influence all Council
1.3 BIODIVERSITY DESCRIPTION
processes, such as the Waitakere City District Plan,
resource consent processes for any development and
The forests of Waitakere sit on an ancient volcanic system
requires local area plans for long-term certainty of what
and are strongly influenced by the marine coastal
can and can’t happen within each locality.
environment; being surrounded on three sides by the
Waitemata and Manukau Harbours and the Tasman Sea.
There are also many smaller areas throughout the
city that are protected as parks and reserves and
The Waitakere Ranges were formed by an ancient
administered by Waitakere City Council.
massive uplift of hard volcanic basalt creating an elevated
plateau with a cool climate, catching the clouds and a
rainfall twice that of the rest of Auckland. Stands of rimu
(Dacrydium cupressinum) thrive on the cool plateau.
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Within the Ranges, softer rock has eroded away creating
steep rugged hills with good drainage that suits kauri
(Agathis australis) stands. Very steep slopes of crumbling,
actively eroding rock release nutrients in this infertile
landscape and provide a refuge for trees like puriri (Vitex
lucens) that normally abound in preferred fertile soils of
lowland flats or young volcanic areas.
The hard basalt is exposed in many sites to form
spectacular gorges, waterfalls and bluffs. These rockland habitats support communities of specialised
plants that can tolerate droughts and little soil. In this
habitat the Waitakere Ranges has an especially droughttolerant kowhai (Sophora fulvida). Silt has collected
from slowly eroding hills in a few small valleys to form
alluvial forests of kahikatea (Dacrydium dacrydioides),
pukatea (Laurelia novaezelandiae), puriri (Vitex lucens) and
ti kouka (Cordyline australis).
The lowland areas of Waitakere, which are now
urbanised, were once covered by great broadleaf forests;
the Waitemata lowlands. East of the Waitakere Ranges,
the soils are more sedentary than volcanic, holding
more moisture in summer and are highly fertile. On
these Waitemata soils lowland totara (Podocarpus totara)
is more common and the lush kohekohe (Dysoxylum
spectabile), puriri, karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus) and
nikau palms (Rhopalostylis sapida) are notably more
widespread and abundant.
Climate and topography are key influences over what
grows where and this is especially the case in Waitakere’s
wild west coast. Storms from the Tasman Sea dump salt
spray on to the rugged landscape creating a band of saltresistant pohutukawa forest (Metrosideros excelsa) and a
whole array of other salt-hardy plants.
The unrelenting coastal elements have moved mountains
of sand, damming valleys to create wetlands and duneimpounded lakes, partially burying pohutukawa trees,
and creating a new coastline that in one locality has
grown 1.5km in 100 years.
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Richness of Waitakere’s Biodiversity
Although only 20% of the forested area is unmodified by
logging or farming, the Waitakere Ranges are botanically
rich containing 20% of all New Zealand’s flowering plant
species and 60% of all native fern species. Although the
following statistics are drawn from a number of sources
and subject to change, the Ranges are home to:
• 542 species of native plant (111 species of these
being native ferns)
• Many species of nationally threatened and
regionally threatened plant species
• 50 species of native bird
• 3 species of kauri snail (large land snail)
• 11 species of native freshwater fish
• 5 species of native reptile
• 1 native frog species
• 1 native mammal (long-tailed bat).
Although records are not complete, it appears that we
have lost 13 native bird species from the Ranges and 17
species from the lowlands. The short-tailed bat was once
common in the region but has not been recorded for
some time.
In contrast to the Waitakere Ranges, the lowlands under
urbanisation have small remnant native bush patches.
These are still important and contain a different mix of
species, although they exhibit lower diversity.
9
There are now 240 introduced plant species identified
as actual or potential threats to native vegetation, and
there are 19 introduced bird species, 9 introduced
mammals and 2 amphibians, all competing with our
native species (see Section 1.4 Threats to Biodiversity).
Within the broader ecosystem areas shown in Map 2,
there are different habitat types represented. The forested
areas in the Warm Lowlands contain a different mix
of tree species to those in the High Rainfall Hills and
Upland Ecosystems. Similarly, the Warm Lowland
streams are generally shallow, slow-flowing and muddy
bottomed whereas the streams in the High Rainfall Hills
and Upland Ecosystems are fast-flowing and stony or
rocky-bottomed. The west coast is steep and exposed and
the east coast is gentle rolling and sheltered.
Habitat types currently within the district can be broadly
grouped into:
• Forests and shrub lands
• Freshwater wetlands, lakes and streams
• Coastal wetlands, dunes, and estuarine tidal flats
and channels
• Urban area.
Forests and shrub lands
There are many categories of forest types within Waitakere
City, from the complex mature and regenerating forests of
the Ranges to the lowland forest remnants and scrub.These
are described in the Protected Natural Area Reports for the
Waitakere Ranges and for the Lowlands, and illustrated
in the guide for planting and restoring the city, Native to
the West. Apart from the Waitakere Ranges, some of the
more interesting habitats are Waikumete Cemetery with its
remnant gumland scrub and native orchids, and Paremuka
Stream which hosts clumps of the plant Astelia grandis.
The forested areas of the Waitakere Ranges support
species such as pied tit (Petroica macrocephala), shining
cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus), long-tailed bat (Chalinobus
tuberculatus), Hochstetter’s frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri),
kauri snail (Paryphanta busbyi) as well as the more
common tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), kerer ū
(Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae) and fantail
(Rhipidura fuliginosa). There are some particular species
that capture the public interest, whether or not they
may be indicators of overall ecological health. Such
species are kerer ū, tui, giant and banded ko-kopu, kauri
and any rare species. Some of the more iconic species are
listed below:
The ecotones, or transition zones of one habitat type into
another, and the corridors that link fragmented habitats
are equally important.
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BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
• Kererū
(Hemiphagia
novaeseelandiae
novaeseelandiae)
Bird counts in the
Waitakere Ranges carried
out by ARC over the
past five years were
established in order to
monitor change in bird
numbers as a result of
Operation Forest Save,
the possum control Kerer ū
programme (the brushtailed possum originally from Australia is a pest species
in New Zealand). There is insufficient data to statistically
show a change although numbers of tui and kerer ū
show an increase in 2001 compared with 1997 but may be
just normal fluctuation. However, monitoring associated
with operation Forest Save has indicated that possum
levels are at 5% of what the population was before the
programme began.
It is known that brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus
vulpecula) out-competes kerer ū for the same food
resources, and kerer ū require substantial amounts of
their fruit food source to maintain body weight. Kerer ū
numbers are considerably higher per hectare on the
gulf islands where possums are absent. Kerer ū numbers
have also increased through successful nesting in
areas where possums have been dramatically reduced,
such as at Wenderholm Regional Park in neighbouring
Rodney District.
• Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
Tui, like silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), tends to flock in
winter and move over long distances in search of food
(nectar and fruit). This explains why bird counts for these
species are so variable. Tui maintains a home territory
during summer breeding when nectar is in abundance
and while their diet comprises a high intake of insects.
During winter tui will move between the offshore islands
and the mainland in search of food.
A favoured food source at the start of breeding is kowhai
nectar. Tui will take advantage of the earlier flowering
Sophora microphylla on the east coast (August/September)
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Tui
then move to the west coast to feed on Sophora fulvida
in October/November.
During breeding (October-January) tui feed on nectar
and insects. Their favourite tree for nesting sites and
the nesting material is kanuka (Kunzea ericoides). Kanuka
forest also harbours high insect numbers, needed to feed
the nestlings with protein. Dense stands of kanuka also
protect the nest and fledglings from being dislodged
by high winds. The shelter of the bush, the right nesting
sites, adequate source of nectar and insects is necessary
for successful breeding in this large nectar feeder.
• Kaka (Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis)
Kaka are occasional visitors from the Hauraki Gulf islands
to the mainland, including to the Waitakere Ranges. Visits
usually occur during June-August. This may represent a
remnant of the flocks that made the seasonal migration
every year. There are records of traditional hunting of
kaka during this migratory period by the Wai-o-hua, a
M āori hapū who moved into the upper harbour in March
for shark fishing and then to the wooded gullies to catch
kaka in snares called tumu.
Kaka visit the land around the upper harbour each
winter, and in the summer of 2001, a pair nested at
Campbell’s Bay on neighbouring North Shore City’s east
coast and produced one fledgling. It is conceivable that
kaka could also breed in the Waitakere Ranges. There
is some anecdotal evidence of a small flock of kaka at
Te Henga on Waitakere’s west coast.
11
• Hochstetter’s Frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri)
Hochstetter’s frog occurs in the Waitakere Ranges and
around the water reservoir areas. This species is
regionally threatened and unusual for a frog in that
there is no tadpole stage, progressing directly from egg
to frog. A tunnel has been built beneath the Scenic
Drive in the Waitakere ranges to provide a link between
habitat areas, as many of these frogs have previously
been killed by vehicles while trying to cross the road to
move between habitats.
Ranges, in thick, damp patches of scrub and fern. These
snails are highly mobile and are carnivorous, feeding
mainly on worms. The heavy shell of the large kauri snails
gives them protection from predation by birds and rats,
but not from pigs.
• Green gecko (Nautilinus elegans)
The green gecko is found in manuka and kanuka stands
and is a very striking green with a bright blue tongue.
Geckos feed on nectar, fruit and insects.
• Long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus)
There are still several small colonies of the long-tailed bat
in the Waitakere Ranges and their eastern foothills. These
bats are insect feeders and forage over large distances,
venturing into the urban fringes.
Freshwater wetlands, lakes and streams
Waitakere City still has a good network of intact streams,
regionally significant wetlands at Te Henga and Whatipu,
and dune-impounded lakes.
• Waitakere Rock Hebe (Hebe bishopiana)
This plant is found in isolated locations and one
population is vulnerable to destruction through roadside
maintenance. The species is being cultivated for revegetation projects according to the recovery plan prepared
to ensure its continued survival.
• Te Henga Wetland
The largest freshwater wetland in the region (80
hectares) and home to a wide range of wetland species
including fernbird (Bowdleria punctata), bittern (Botaurus
poiciloptilus), marsh crake (Porzana pusilla), spotless crake
(Porzana tabuensis) and banded rail (Rallus philippensis).
• Kauri Snail (Paryphanta busbyi)
The geographic range of kauri snails coincides with the
historic geographic range of kauri forests. Kauri snails
were traditionally found in the large clumps of dense
vegetation that grew as epiphytes on the kauri, their eggs
being laid at the foot of these large trees. These habitats
associated with old kauri forests have been destroyed
along with the ancient trees. Colonies of the kauri snail
(P. busbyi) still survive in several areas of the Waitakere
• Whatipu wetlands
These freshwater wetlands lie within the Scientific
Reserve; part of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park,
which also incorporates the unconsolidated sand areas.
This is an important nesting site for the white-fronted
tern (Sterna striata) and feeding area for the Caspian tern
(Hydropognia caspia) and blue reef heron (Egretta sacra).
Whatipu now forms part of the regional park and is
administered by ARC.
• Lakes Kawaupaka and Waimanu
These are impounded freshwater dune lakes on
Waitakere’s west coast and provide habitat for little
black shag (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), bittern and spotless crake.
• Streams
Rock Hebe
12
Many stream systems in Waitakere City are still in a
natural state with good riparian vegetation. Intact stream
systems right from the estuarine areas to the headwaters
that present no physical barriers are important for
migratory species of native fish, such as inanga (Galaxias
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maculatus) and other galaxids; banded ko-kopu (Galaxias
fasciatus) and giant ko-kopu (Galaxias argenteus). The
juvenile forms of these species make up the whitebait
swarms on their spring migration from the sea to live
in streams until they are about one year old. The adults
then migrate downstream to the estuarine areas where
they spawn in autumn among streamside vegetation. On
the high spring tides the hatched larval fish are washed
out to sea where they live for five to six months growing
into the whitebait that migrates back to the adult
freshwater habitats. In spring, the adult whitebait are
often found living right up in the headwaters. The
region’s whitebait population depend upon small inland,
bush-covered streams remaining navigable from the coast
to inland headwaters.
Project Twin Streams (see section 2.2) is a major riparian
restoration project in partnership with the community that
aims to restore the urbanised lengths of streams within
major catchments in the city: Oratia, Opanuku, Swanson,
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Waikumete Streams, Henderson Creek as well as a minor
tributary – Pixie Stream. It involves removal of weeds
and rubbish, restoration of riparian margins, introduction
of environmentally friendly stormwater solutions, and
increased community ownership, understanding and
participation. The project is intended to provide long-term
solutions to riparian and stormwater issues. The catchments included in Project Twin Streams cover more than
10,000 hectares of Waitakere’s foothills and urban land.
• Native fish species
The most common native fish species found in streams
in the Auckland Region are shortfin eel (Anguilla
australis), longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachia), common
bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), banded ko-kopu, inanga,
redfin bully (Gobiomorphus huttoni) and common smelt
(Retropinna retropinna). Uncommon species are Crans
bully (Gobiomorphus basalis) and giant ko-kopu.
13
Streams will commonly support up to five species of
native fish. There are two fish communities that indicate
high diversity in streams. For shady streams it is
shortfin eel/longfin eel/banded ko- kopu/redfin bully
and for open lower gradient streams it is shortfin eel/
longfin eel/common bully/inanga/redfin bully.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research (NIWA) has identified 17 native fish species
that are found in the Auckland region, although only a
maximum of 8 of these are expected to be found in any
one stream class or type. Fish surveys in Waitakere City in
1997-99, found only 2-3 native fish species in the streams
surveyed. In 2001, 4-6 species were found. The native fish
survey work for the 2003/04 season recorded a total of 11
native fish species at 29 survey sites, and 1-6 species, with
an average of 3 species found at any one site. Riparian
vegetation restoration and removal of barriers to fish
passage are the most effective methods of encouraging
native fish species back to the streams.
Among the less frequent species found in urban
Waitakere Streams are the freshwater crayfish or koura
(Paranephrops planifrons) the freshwater crab (Amarinus
lacustris) and giant ko-kopu. Recently, the regionally rare
short-jawed ko-kopu (Galaxias postvectis) was discovered
in a stream in the Waitakere Ranges.
Coastal wetlands, dunes and estuarine flats
Waitakere’s coastal environment offers a variety of
habitats from sheltered mangrove forests (Avicennia
resinifera var. marina), shell banks and mudflats of the
Waitemata and Manukau Harbours to the rocky coast,
islands and dune systems of the west coast.
• Harbourview Orangihina,
Te Atatu Peninsula
This public reserve contains the largest area of salt
marsh and complete ecotone from saline to brackish to
freshwater wetland around the Waitemata Harbour.
The foreshore of this reserve is a habitat for fernbird
(Bowdleria punctata vealeae). This small population is split
into two separate areas of rush-dominated vegetation.
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Fernbirds prefer a two-tiered vegetation structure and
it has been recommended that the areas between the
fernbird habitats are reconnected by planting flax
(Phormium tenax) and Olearia solandri, both of which
are present in the wetland. The expansion of a two-tiered
vegetation structure to link the two occupied areas
would enable the population to make more use of the
wetland and increase their survival chances. The increase
in residential development around the reserve will also
result in an increase in domestic pets. It may be necessary
in the near future to undertake pest management either
through construction of a pest-proof fence around the
fernbird habitat or intensive trapping.
Other species that may be attracted to an improved
wetland habitat and protected from disturbance could be
Australian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) and banded rail
(Rallus philippensis).
• West coast dunes
These mobile sand dunes support pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis) and provide nesting habitat for New
Zealand dotterel (Charadrius obscurus) and white-fronted
tern (Sterna striata) where the area is not disturbed.
• Harbour margins
The tidal flats, sand bars and mangrove forests around
the Waitemata Harbour and Manukau Harbour are
all important feeding areas, roosting and nesting sites
for a wide range of migratory birds, such as eastern
bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), lesser knot (Calidrus
canutus), and non-migratory pied stilt (Himantopus
leucocephalus).
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Urban area
The urban areas of Waitakere City are also important
for biodiversity maintenance. Urban areas include
the peri-urban mixed use habitats associated with
residential, industrial, horticultural, agricultural and lifestyle landscapes.
• Urban gardens
Exotic plantings often provide additional food sources for
birds and insects, particularly during winter when food is
limited. Many flowering shrubs and trees from Australia
and South Africa provide winter nectar for tui and
insects, and the Himalayan Strawberry tree (Cornus
capitata) is a favourite for visiting kaka during winter.
The downside is that many exotic fruiting species
attract birds (including tui and kereru) that then
distribute the seeds that establish and flourish in bush
areas, outcompeting native species. Acmena, privet
species (Ligustrum), Elaeagnus, woolly nightshade
(Solanum mauritanium) and many other species come
into this category.
There are also areas of grassland and herbs on industrial
properties used by birds and skinks.
• Reserves
Reserves, particularly remnant native bush reserves,
function as wildlife refuges, breeding areas and seed
source for the regeneration of native bush. For the
bush area to support small bird species, such as fantail
and grey warbler, as well as a rich variety of invertebrates
there does need to be a dense understorey and good
ground cover. However, a one- or two-tier canopy will
still attract tui and other wider-ranging species. Size
matters as well as plant species composition if it is to
support breeding populations of some bird species.
It is important to recognise that older, decaying and
dead trees are an important component of any forest
and should be left to decay rather than be cleared away.
Long-tailed bats are known to roost in hollows in large,
old macrocarpa trees (Cupressus macrocarpa), and many
species inhabit and rely on decaying wood serving a
useful ecological purpose in nutrient recycling.
• Streams
Urban gardens can provide habitat for a rich variety of
invertebrates, including weta species, skinks as well as
birds. Choice of plant species and garden maintenance
practices can dramatically influence the ecological value
of a garden.
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Intact urban stream systems provide ecological linkages
from the sea to the headwaters. Vegetated riparian
margins protect in-stream habitat for aquatic species and
accessible water resources for terrestrial species.
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History of Waitakere’s Biodiversity
Prior to the arrival of M āori in New Zealand, 1000 or
so years ago, Waitakere was covered with virgin forest.
This forest contained extensive groves of kauri
(Agathis austalis). As the M āori population grew, they
cleared the forest to create patches of coastal land for
habitation and cultivation. The ground was cleared of
forest in several ways. Commonly the M āori broke down
the undergrowth which when dry was set alight to
burn off. The large trees were then felled and the land
prepared for planting. Crops were grown for one or more
seasons, then abandoned and another area of forest
brought into cultivation. The abandoned gardens usually
passed into bracken fern which was periodically fired
and the roots harvested for food. Once an area had
been in bracken for a few years, the soil became sour and
even the bracken was abandoned in favour of clearing
more forest.
When the first Europeans passed through the area in
the 1820s, they described the eastern lowland parts of
Waitakere as a wasteland of fern and scrub with only
a few small patches of kauri forest remaining. With
European settlement in the Waitakere Ranges from the
late 1830s on, the remaining virgin forests came under
further pressure. Although many of the early efforts to
establish farms were in areas already cleared of forest, a
number of later pioneering farms were in the rugged
heart of the Ranges.
Stitchbird
the dry kauri heads and damaged undergrowth in order
to clear the land.
By the 1920s, very little virgin forest remained in the
Waitakere Ranges. Fortunately that which remained was
preserved and became park land and water catchment
area.
Along with destruction and fragmentation of the forest,
many animal species dependant on the forest cover
were also lost. Bird species known to be present in the
Waitakere Ranges but disappeared between mid-1800s
and mid-1900s include:
• North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx australis)
• North Island weka (Gallirallus australis)
Between the 1850s and 1920s kauri gum, the solidified
resin of kauri trees, was of considerable value as the
main ingredient of oil varnishes. A large group of people,
gumdiggers, were involved in the search for it. Kauri gum
was dug up in most parts of the Waitakere Ranges. The
undergrowth was commonly burned to make the digging
easier.
The fourth group to make an impact on the forest were
the timber millers. They clear-felled the vast majority
of the kauri trees that were in the area when Europeans
arrived, and also caused a great deal of damage to the
remaining forest in their endeavours to get the kauri
logs out of the rugged hills and down to the mills. In
many instances settlers or gumdiggers moved in after
the valuable kauri timber had been harvested, set fire to
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• North Island kokako (Callaeas cinerea)
• Bellbird (Anthornis melanura)
• Stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta)
• North Island robin (Petroica australis longipes)
• Whitehead (Mohoua albicilla)
• Kaka (Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis) – now
an occasional visitor from Little Barrier Island
• Red-crowned ka- ka- riki
(Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)
• Yellow-crowned ka- ka- riki
(Cyanoramphus auriceps)
• Brown teal (Anas chlorotis)
• New Zealand scaup (Athya novaeseelandiae)
• New Zealand dabchick (Podiceps rufopectus)
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In addition, bird species lost from the lowland area but
still present in the Waitakere Ranges include:
• Pied tit (Petroica macrocephala)
• Marsh crake (Porzana pusilla)
• Spotless crake (Porzana tabuensis)
Of the only three species of mammal indigenous to
New Zealand, the long-tailed (Chalinobus tuberculatus)
and short-tailed bat species (Mystacina tuberculatus)
were found in the Waitakere Ranges. Sadly, only the
long-tailed bat remains in a few small colonies.
• Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus)
Vulnerability Status of Waitakere Animal Species
Common name
Specific name
Status
Bellbird
Brown teal
North Island brown kiwi
North Island kokako
North Island robin
North Island weka
NZ dabchick
NZ scaup
Red-crowned ka- ka- riki
Rifleman
Stitchbird
Whitehead
Yellow-crowned ka- ka- riki
Anthornis melanura
Anas chlorotis
Apteryx australis
Callaeas cinerea
Petroica australis longipes
Gallirallus australis
Podiceps rufopectus
Athya novaeseelandiae
Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae
Acanthisitta chloris
Notiomystis cincta
Mohoua albicilla
Cyanoramphus auriceps
Locally extinct
Banded dotterel
Peripatus
Variable oystercatcher
Charadrius bicinctus
Peripatus spp.
Haematopus unicolor
Nationally rare
Banded rail
Giant ko-kopu
Hochstetters frog
Kerer ū
NZ long-tailed bat
North island kaka
NZ dotterel
Reef heron
Spotless crake
Wrybill
Rallus philippensis
Galaxias argeteus
Leiopelma hochstetteri
Hemiphagia novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae
Chalinolobus tuberculatus
Nestor meridionalis septentrionalis
Charadrius obscurus
Egretta sacra sacra
Porzana tabuensis
Anarhynchus frontalis
Nationally threatened
Pied tit
Long-tailed cuckoo
Short-jawed ko-kopu
Petroica macrocephala
Eudynamys taitensis
Galaxias postvectis
Regionally rare
Bittern
Kauri snail
Marsh crake
North Island fernbird
Botaurus poiciloptilus
Paryphanta busbyi
Porzana pusilla
Bowdleria punctata
Regionally threatened
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17
Value of Waitakere’s Biodiversity
Ecosystem Sevices
The value of Waitakere’s biodiversity can be considered
in terms of ecosystem services. These include provisioning services such as food and water; regulating services
such as flood and disease control; cultural services
such as spiritual, recreational, and cultural benefits;
and supporting services such as nutrient cycling that
maintain the conditions for life on Earth. The air we
breathe, the water we drink, the soils that sustain our
pastures, forestry, orchards and crops are examples of
environmental goods that benefit humans. Without
them, life on Earth would be impossible. These goods –
air, water and soil – arise from interactions between
living things, such as chemical reactions and mechanical
processes. Ecosystem processes that benefit humans are
called “ecosystem services”.
a) Provisioning services
Provisioning services are the products obtained from
ecosystems, including, for example, genetic resources,
food and fibre, and fresh water.
• Ecosystems and habitats that nurture fish and
game, and other species that are harvested, either
commercially, for customary or subsistence use,
and/or for recreation.
• Ecosystems and habitats that provide
opportunities for bioprospecting.
• Ecosystems and habitats that provide resources
for scientific research.
• Ecosystems that provide fresh water for drinking,
hydro and irrigation.
The Waitakere Ranges and its forest cover provide the
water catchment for Waitakere’s drinking water. The
reservoirs in the Waitakere Ranges also supply parts of
surrounding local authority areas. The forested area is
subject to numerous botanical and zoological research
projects and education programmes.
b) Regulating services
Regulating services are the benefits obtained from the
regulation of ecosystem processes, including, for example,
the regulation of climate, water, and some human diseases.
• Ecosystems and habitats that may capture carbon and
regulate the effects of human-caused climate change.
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• Vegetated catchments that regulate supply of water,
mitigate flooding, reduce erosion, and reduce the
rates of silting up of harbours and estuaries.
The forested Waitakere Ranges act as the lungs of the
city; giving off oxygen and taking in and sequestering
carbon dioxide. The forests also trap and hold moisture;
so cooling the air.
c) Supporting services
Supporting services are ecosystem services that are
necessary for the production of all other ecosystem
services. Some examples include biomass production,
production of atmospheric oxygen, soil formation
and retention, nutrient cycling, water cycling, and
provisioning of habitat.
• Native bees, which are varroa bee-mite resistant,
may provide important pollination services for
horticulture and pastoral farming.
• High-biodiversity ecosystems and habitats, such
as wetlands, that provide nutrient recycling and
environmental detoxification services to improve
aspects of the environment such as water quality.
• Ecosystems – eg. bacteria, flies, worms, fungi –
that decompose decaying organic matter into
essential minerals and other resources such as
soil and purified water.
d) Cultural services
Cultural services are the non-material benefits people
obtain from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment,
cognitive development, reflection, recreation, and
aesthetic experience, including, eg. knowledge systems,
social relations, and aesthetic values.
• Ecosystems and habitats that provide attractive
places to visit for recreation (eg. tramping,
mountain-biking, camping, sightseeing,
photography, snorkelling and diving), and
for conservationists.
• Ecosystems and habitats in which people may
pursue improved health and wellbeing, and/or
for spiritual and/or cultural purposes.
• Ecosystems, habitats and scenery that provide the
backdrop to New Zealand’s clean, green image,
and draw overseas tourists and film-makers to
New Zealand.
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Waitakere has become a centre for film-making with the
establishment of a film studio in Henderson.
1.4 THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
Urbanisation – Habitat loss
Ecosystem services are often taken for granted, because
they are ‘free’, that is, not traded directly in markets –
unlike fish, vegetables and timber. The value to society of
ecosystem services becomes more apparent when:
• They are in decline – when air and water is
polluted, when erosion and overgrazing degrades
soils, when deforested catchments lead to flooding
in heavy rain, when whitebait catches fall on the
removal of wetlands and streams for farming.
• There are conflicting demands on use – between
hydro companies, irrigators, kayakers, anglers and
rafting companies for river flows; between diving
tourism companies, recreational snorkelers and
fishers for healthy marine environments.
In these situations, the ecosystem services are no longer
free, but, in the absence of markets and well-defined
property rights it is unclear how they should best be
managed. Also, ecosystems are so complicated that it
is impossible to reproduce them artificially. Rather,
humans impact on ecosystems, and in some cases the
impacts are irreversible. The more the ecosystems are
modified, the simpler they are likely to become and
provide fewer services.
Why Biodiversity is Important
to Te Kawerau A Maki
Te Kawerau A Maki are one of the original tribal
inhabitants of Waitakere.
Te Kawerau A Maki’s concerns are to:
• Have access to flora and fauna for harvesting
and craft;
• Ensure the protection and enhancement of native
flora and fauna and their ecosystems;
• Support the eradication of exotic (introduced)
plants and animals that are damaging,
destroying or competing with native species
or their ecosystems;
• Participate in decisions regarding the introduction
of exotic flora and fauna into New Zealand, and
• Ensure that property rights are not ascribed to
native species in breach of Treaty rights.
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The Auckland region is experiencing a population
growth rate of 3.1% with Waitakere’s at 2.7% per
annum. Increased population means pressure for further
development which usually results in further loss of
habitat, whether it is loss of bush, loss of rural land
or encroachment of coastal and riparian areas. Along
with increased population, development and noise;
urbanisation brings more weeds and pests to compete
with indigenous biodiversity.
On the positive side, there are some bird species that
enjoy an advantage provided by the variety of garden
plants that provide winter forage in particular. The
more we can use native plants in our gardens and parks,
supplemented with nectar producing and fruiting exotics,
the more urban areas can support species such as tui,
kereru or even bellbird once more.
Despite insectivores and frugivores enjoying some
benefit from plantings in urban areas, the insectivorous
bird species definitely suffer unless bush remnants with
full undergrowth to support invertebrate communities
are left intact.
Plant Pests
Plant pests are a major threat to biodiversity by changing
environmental conditions through shading, smothering,
or preventing other species from establishing. Within
natural communities they affect vegetation structure
and composition, regeneration, plant and animal biodiversity, hydrology and nutrient regimes.
Problem plant pests in Waitakere City are numerous,
and include agapanthus (Agapanthus praecox) on the west
coast, Elaeagnus x reflexa, woolly nightshade (Solanum
mauritianum), wild ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum and
H. flavescens,) mignonette vine (Andredera cordifolia),
moth plant (Araujia sericifera), blue morning glory
(Ipomoea indica), climbing asparagus (Asparagus scandens),
ladder fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia), bamboo (including
Bambusa and Phyllostachys species), honeysuckle
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Climate Change
(Lonicera japonica) and jasmine (Jasminium polyanthum) in
the Waitakere Ranges. In the urban area pest plants also
include privet (Ligustrum sinense and L. lucidum), Arundo
donax, climbing asparagus, pampas (Cortaderia selloana
and C. jubata) and monkey apple (Acmena smithii). These
plant pest species have invaded native bush areas, grow at
a rapid rate and out-compete native species.
Animal Pests
Animal pests browse on palatable plant species, reducing
the success rate of new plantings, degrading existing
habitats and compete with native species also using these
food sources. Some also prey on native birds, invertebrates
and fish. Firmly established animal pests include Norway
rat (Rattus norvegicus) and ship rat (Rattus rattus), mouse
(Mus domesticus), brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus
vulpecula), various wasp species, pest freshwater fish
species, ferret (Mustela furo), weasel (Mustela nivalis), stoat
(Mustela ermine), feral goats and feral pigs in the Waitakere
Ranges.
In addition, there is an ongoing threat to coastal bird
species, particularly New Zealand dotterel (Charadrius
obscurus) and banded dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus),
variable oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) and little
blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) from dog predation and
disturbance. Dogs and domestic cats also have easy access
to valuable lowland fauna habitat, such as wetlands and
tidal mudflats, because of the close proximity of residential
development to these areas.
Little is known at this stage about how climate
change will affect biodiversity in the Waitakere Ranges.
Increasing temperatures and more intense rainfall events
may result in the climate becoming marginal for certain
species while making conditions more favourable for
some pests. This is an area not well understood at present
and the Council is planning to assess the likely effects
of climate change in more detail during the next year.
However, it will still be unpredictable how particular
species will respond to change.
1.5 BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
Waitakere’s Biodiversity Goals
The vision in Waitakere’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action
Plan, 2006 is for long term viability for Waitakere’s
biodiversity. Specific goals in the Biodiversity Strategy
include:
• Establish the state of Waitakere’s biodiversity
• Provide for the maintenance and long-term
viability of the city’s indigenous biodiversity
• Enable the re-establishment of species lost from
the city
• Enable the effective involvement of tangata
whenua in the management of biodiversity and
to fulfil their responsibilities as kaitiaki
• Co-ordinate, contribute to and build community
capacity for the maintenance and enhancement
of indigenous biodiversity
• On-going research and monitoring of biodiversity.
Statutory Context for Waitakere’s
Biodiversity Goals
International Commitment
The Convention on Biological Diversity was introduced
at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This
international convention concerns the conservation of
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biological diversity including the variety and variability of
genes, species, populations and ecosystems which provide
the foundation for the earth’s ecological services.
New Zealand ratified the Convention in 1993, adopting
the three main goals:
• The conservation of biological diversity
• The sustainable use of its components, and
• The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits
from the use of genetic resources.
The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy –
Our Chance to Turn the Tide
The Convention on Biological Diversity requires New
Zealand to prepare national strategies or plans to set
national goals to conserve and sustainably use
biodiversity.
New Zealand made a commitment to prepare a national
strategy to set clear goals for New Zealand’s indigenous
biodiversity in the Environment 2010 Strategy released
in 1995. In 1997 a “State of the Environment” report
was prepared for New Zealand which identified just how
bad things have become for our biodiversity. In 1998, the
Government adopted “halt the decline of indigenous
biodiversity”as one of its ten Strategic Priorities.
The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy was finally
adopted in February 2000, identifying the conservation
and sustainable use of New Zealand’s biodiversity as a
matter of national importance. The Biodiversity Strategy
aims to halt the decline in our biodiversity and sets out a
vision where:
• New Zealanders value and better understand
biodiversity;
• We all work together to protect, sustain and
restore our biodiversity, and enjoy and share in
its benefits, as a foundation of a sustainable
economy and society;
• Iwi and hapū as kaitiaki are active partners in
managing biodiversity;
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• The full range of New Zealand’s indigenous
ecosystems and species thrive from the
mountains to the ocean depths; and
• The genetic resources of our important
introduced species are secure and in turn
support our indigenous biodiversity.
This last bullet point in the vision has been somewhat
controversial and was added to the Strategy at a late
stage. It is there in recognition that New Zealand has
acquired some introduced species that have become
important because they contribute to the economy (for
example Merino sheep and kiwifruit), provide habitat
for native species or because they are endangered in
their country of origin. A local example of valued
introduced species is the large but harmless Avondale
spider; an Australia huntsman spider (Delena cancerides)
that established in a very small locality on the border
between Waitakere and Auckland City in the 1920s. The
spider has a body length up to 30mm and leg span up to
200mm and lives under the loose bark of the introduced
Australian brush wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha). This
same brush wattle, which is normally considered to be a
weed, growing as a dense forest in a sheltered valley on
the island Tiritiri Matangi (now an open wildlife reserve
in the Hauraki Gulf) provided an important food source
for the locally threatened nectivore, the bellbird, during
the time the island was grazed and functioned as a
navigation signal station with a lighthouse. The bellbirds
which had disappeared from the Auckland mainland in
the 1860s, survived as a remnant species until the island
became a wildlife reserve in 1984. Tiritiri Matangi is now
restored with maturing native plantings but the brush
wattle is still an important winter source of nectar for
21
all three native nectivores that now inhabit the island;
tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), bellbird (Anthornis
melanura) and stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta).
The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy includes four
main goals for achieving the vision:
Goal One: Community and individual action,
responsibility and benefits
Enhance community and individual understanding about
biodiversity, and inform, motivate and support widespread
and co-ordinated community action to conserve and
sustainably use biodiversity; and
between government agencies and iwi and hapū in
conserving and sustainably using indigenous biodiversity.
Goal Three: Halt the decline in New Zealand’s
indigenous biodiversity
Maintain and restore a full range of remaining natural
habitats and ecosystems to a healthy functioning state,
enhance critically scarce habitats, and sustain the more
modified ecosystems in production and urban environments; and do what else is necessary to maintain and restore
viable populations of all indigenous species across their
natural range and maintain their genetic diversity.
Enable communities and individuals to equitably share
responsibility for, and benefits from, conserving and
sustainably using New Zealand’s biodiversity, including
the benefits from the use of indigenous genetic resources.
Goal Four: Genetic resources of introduced species
Goal Two: Treaty of Waitangi
It has been recognised that one of the keys to achieving
these goals is to address how the management of private
land affects indigenous biodiversity. The Ministerial
Advisory Committee on Biodiversity noted that achieving
Actively protect iwi and hapū interests in indigenous
biodiversity, and build and strengthen partnerships
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Maintain the genetic resources of introduced species that
are most important for economic, biological and cultural
reasons by conserving their genetic diversity.
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goals for biodiversity will not result from forced
compliance or from increased public funding alone, and
that it will take combined resources and co-operation
from all involved to halt the decline in New Zealand’s
biodiversity.
In order to assist local government the Action
Bio-Community website has been set up to build
capacity for biodiversity management in councils and
communities with resources, case-studies, key reference
material and contacts.
Resource Management Act 1991
Section 6(c) of the nationally applied Resource
Management Act (RMA) identifies the protection of areas
of significant indigenous vegetation and significant
habitats of indigenous fauna as matters of national
importance, and section 7(d) requires particular regard to
be had to the intrinsic values of ecosystems.
The Waitakere City District Plan protects these areas
of significant vegetation and habitats identified in
Waitakere City through the Protected Natural Area
survey programme. However, this does not necessarily
ensure protection or maintenance of biodiversity as a
resource consent application on private land must be
assessed in terms of adverse effects on the immediate
environment relating to that specific piece of land.
The cumulative effects of numerous consents for
development on individual parcels of land is poorly
understood or taken into account.
Amendments to the RMA in 2003 have added a
definition of indigenous biodiversity, and amended
Sections 30 and 31 to clarify that managing biodiversity
is an explicit function of both regional councils and
territorial authorities. They must provide for the maintenance of biodiversity in regional and district plans.
Waitakere City District Plan
Botanical surveys have been completed for the
Waitakere Ecological District and for Waitakere part
of the Tamaki and Rodney Ecological Districts (PNA
surveys). The outstanding and significant vegetation
identified from these surveys has been mapped and
protected under the Waitakere City District Plan.
The District Plan’s Objective for biodiversity is:
Objective 2 – To protect the city’s native vegetation and fauna
habitat, including protecting:
• The quality and resilience of the resource;
• The variety and range of species and their
contribution to the biodiversity of the City;
• Their ecological integrity;
• Their healthiness as a potential source of harvest
for cultural purposes.
Section 6(e) identifies as a matter of national importance
the relationship of M āori and their culture and
traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites,
wāhi tapu, and other taonga. M āori hold a holistic
view of the environment where people are part of nature
and biodiversity. As the people are intrinsically linked
with the natural world, the mana of the iwi, hapū or
whānau is directly related to the mauri or well being
of the natural resources within their rohe, or region.
Understanding and valuing the M āori worldview is
an essential step towards a bicultural approach to
biodiversity management.
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Rules in the District Plan regulate vegetation clearance,
earthworking, natural area and riparian protection. The
Plan further advocates for restoration of areas and:
Objective 5 – To protect processes of natural regeneration within
the City, and promote and maintain links between areas of
significant and outstanding native vegetation and fauna
habitat, so that their resilience is protected and enhanced.
Sites of Special Wildlife Interest have also been identified
through the PNA surveys and listed in Appendix F of the
policy section of the District Plan.
Waitakere City Council will continue to advocate for
retaining streams in a natural state with riparian
vegetation cover, and fully accessible to migratory fish
species, and the restoration of these areas where
appropriate and feasible. The Council is aware of the
effects that hydrological changes and stormwater from
impervious surfaces have on species. The Council is
looking at stormwater source control and stormwater
treatment devices to mitigate these adverse effects.
The Council has spent a considerable amount of time
and effort educating Waitakere City residents about the
value of riparian margins. In particular, urban riparian
margins are often degraded and their importance
overlooked by both homeowners and developers alike.
The Waitakere City District Plan provides for the
protection of riparian margins because of the ecosystem services and habitat provision they offer to the
city, landowners and for biodiversity of the stream
environment. Riparian margins act as a buffer against
the potential effects of land use as they:
• Provide habitat on the banks and in the stream
for wildlife
• Allow a range of native species to establish
• Shade the stream maintaining a more even
temperature critical for native fish
• Provide food for in-stream fauna
• Retain run-off and help remove sediment and
contaminants from water entering the stream
• Prevent the growth of weed species both in the
water and on the banks
• Reduce flooding
• Maintain ground water and soil condition.
The Green Network Community Assistance Programme
ranks streams on private land as highest priority for
providing financial assistance for weed removal and
replanting (see Section 2.1 Economic Instruments).
The function of vegetated riparian margins is sufficiently
critical to the health of the stream and its aquatic life
that it is considered more important to retain whatever
vegetation exists, and only gradually replace exotic
species with native species, rather than undertake weed
removal that exposes the stream banks to sun and wind.
Local Government Act 2002
This Act provides for local authorities to play a broad
role in promoting the social, economic, environmental,
and cultural wellbeing of their communities, taking a
sustainable development approach. Maintaining biodiversity is one of the critical measures of sustainability.
Although there are many perspectives on sustainable
development, there can be little argument that a world
where species and ecosystems are being lost is not
sustainable by any measure. The state of biodiversity is
therefore a core determinant of the success of local
governance as defined by the Local Government Act.
Long Term Council Community Plan
2006-2016
The Council’s Long Term Council Community Plan
(LTCCP), prepared under Section 93 of the Local
Government Act, identifies sustainable development
as one of the city’s five priorities, including through
supporting ecosystem capacity and respecting environmental limits. A key indicator of sustainability
is the maintenance of local biodiversity. The concept
of sustainability is also supported by the Community
Outcomes sought: Sustainable Environment and
Environmental Protection. The Council’s nine strategic
platforms include the Green Network, which is about
caring for natural areas.
• Reduce the potential for erosion
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BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
The LTCCP targets the Waitakere Ranges for a higher
level of protection, in particular, through managing
weeds and pests, ensuring ecosystems are not compromised
by urban sprawl or visitor pressure, and re-establishing
corridors to link the Ranges to the sea. The LCCP includes
funding to support this programme. Delivery is through
the Green Network strategic platform.
Waitakere City Strategic Direction:
Green Network
The 2020 vision for the Green Network is that the
Waitakere Ranges will be permanently protected.
There will be a network of bush and trees from the
Ranges, through town centres and suburbs, to the coasts,
bringing the natural world into people’s everyday
lives and filling the streams and forests with life. This
platform is about caring for natural areas. The city’s parks,
bush and streams form a green network that provides
homes and highways for wildlife and recreational areas
for people. It also assists with managing and filtering
stormwater. Protection and enhancement is sought on
both public and private land, community involvement
is encouraged, as is the protection of landscapes, native
plants, wildlife and ecosystems.
Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill
This Bill, which is currently being considered by
Parliament, establishes the Waitakere Ranges Heritage
Area, states the national significance of the Heritage Area
and establishes a set of objectives for its heritage features
to ensure long-term protection. The Bill places emphasis
on the value of ecosystems in the Waitakere Ranges.
Auckland Regional Parks Management Plan
The Waitakere Ranges Regional Park encompasses more
than 16,000 hectares (160km2) and is managed by the
Auckland Regional Council under the Regional Parks
Management Plan. This plan contains general objectives
and policies for habitat and ecosystem protection,
restoration and enhancement, indigenous species
protection and for species reintroduction for regional
parks. The plan indicates that specific species management
programmes will be developed, among other species, for:
• Waitakere Rock Hebe (Hebe bishopiana)
• Wood rose (Dactylanthus taylorii)
• Hochstetter’s frog
• Long-tailed bat.
This strategic platform is incorporated into the
Waitakere District Plan, and so has a regulatory and
non-regulatory underpinning.
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Auckland Regional Pest Management
Strategy 2002-2007
As well as providing a framework and priority ranking
for the Council’s plant and animal pest management,
the Waitakere Ranges are identified as one of the
few parts of the Auckland Region in which active
management of a number of weed species is required.
Active control of possums is also carried out by the
Auckland Regional Council.
Waitakere City Weed and Pest
Management Plan 2006
The goal of the Weed and Pest Management Plan is for
the protection of the quality, resilience, biodiversity and
ecological integrity of Waitakere City’s natural habitat
from the impacts of environmental pests. The strategy
contains criteria for prioritising weed management
programmes as well as best practice guidelines. The 2006
review provided a new five-year prioritised work
programme for both plant and animal pests.
Meeting Waitakere’ City’s Biodiversity
Goals to Date
Goal 1: Establish the state of Waitakere’s
biodiversity.
This report goes someway towards meeting the first goal
of establishing the state of Waitakere’s biodiversity. Much
more information can still be collected and will be over
time.
most of the area of the Ranges and protects the area
in perpetuity. The Waitakere City District Plan contains
strong policies and a suite of rules that take account of
impacts of development on biodiversity on private land
in the city.
Goal 3: Enable the re-establishment of species
lost from the city.
So far, four species of native birds have been re-introduced
into a predator-free area of the Waitakere Ranges, and
more are planned. There is evidence that three of the four
species have established and are breeding. The fourth
species, stitchbird, was only released in March 2007.
Work towards the remaining three goals (see section 1.5)
is progressing.
Goal 2: Provide for the maintenance and long
term viability of the city’s indigenous biodiversity.
There are some mechanisms in place to achieve Goal 2 to
provide for the maintenance and long term viability of
the city’s indigenous biodiversity. Once the Waitakere
Ranges Heritage Area Bill becomes enacted, long-term
protection of the values of the Ranges and foothills,
whether in public or in private ownership, will be
enshrined in legislation, although the success of this
protection will also rest on actions on the ground.
Failing this, the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park covers
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Recognition Received
In 2006, Waitakere City received first place in its
category for the international Liveable Communities
Award. This was awarded in part for Waitakere’s
Greenprint vision of a city which integrates nature into
people’s everyday lives, and for its Green Network goals
and enhancement programmes.
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
Project Twin Streams was selected as a finalist in the
International Thiess River prize 2007 for successfully
addressing environmental issues through CommunityCouncil partnerships.
Monitoring Methods
The bird species released back into the Waitakere Ranges
and resulting offspring have been banded, and sightings
are being recorded by Ark in the Park volunteers (see
section 2.2). The group of volunteers is also monitoring
pest presence with track tunnels for any pest re-invasion
into eradication areas.
Links between biodiversity management
and social and economic wellbeing
Through Project Twin Streams, community participants
have the opportunity of being trained in pest management, revegetation techniques and health and safety for
working in the field. Apart from engendering community
spirit in working together on projects, some groups are
forming that are able to tender for other related project
contracts. Project Twin Streams is now developing into a
sustainable communities project.
The Auckland Regional Council undertakes extensive
possum control in the Waitakere Ranges Regional
Park and monitoring the success of control by a possum
residual trap catch index and by total bird count numbers
for key indicator species. Possums compete with tui and
kerer ū for the same plant food sources and disturb nesting
of these species. Possum will also eat eggs and nestlings of
any bird species. As possum numbers decrease in forest
areas, kerer ū numbers increase.
Waitakere City Council has been running a biodiversity
monitoring programme since 1997, recording 5-minute
bird counts at (now) 27 set locations selected as sites
representative of habitats throughout Waitakere. In
2002, vegetation structure and phenology (timing and
duration of flowering and fruiting) was also assessed
using rapid assessment vegetation surveys at the 27 sites.
Terrestrial invertebrates were also collected in a pitfall
trap line at each site. At seven of these sites, presence of
herpetofauna are also recorded.
Native fish species occurrence is monitored, particularly
to track fish movements where on-line ponds or other
fish barriers exist.
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
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2. GOVERNANCE
2.1 BIODIVERSITY IN CITY MANAGEMENT
Institutional Structure for Biodiversity
Management Within City Governance
Within Waitakere City Council, responsibility for biodiversity management is held across a number of groups:
• Long Term and Environmental Strategy Group
within the Strategy Unit determines policy and
protection for biodiversity under the Waitakere
City District Plan, develops strategies and
co-ordinates biodiversity monitoring.
• Parks Planning prepares reserve management
plans, undertakes habitat restoration and
supports community action on both public and
private land including administering the Green
Network Community Assistance Programme for
landowners to restore and manage biodiversity
on private land.
• Resource Consent Services has an ecologist in the
team to specifically consider effects of proposed
development on biodiversity. Specialist advice is
also sought from Parks Planning and the Long
Term and Environmental Strategy Group.
Priority of Biodiversity in
City Management
Waitakere’s priority for biodiversity management is
reflected in one of the Council’s nine strategic platforms,
the Green Network platform. The vision for the
Green network is that: “The Waitakere Ranges will be
permanently protected. There will be a network of bush
and trees from the Ranges, through town centres and
suburbs, to the coast, bringing the natural world into
people’s everyday lives and filling the streams and
forests with life.”
This platform is about caring for natural areas. The city’s
parks, bush and streams form a ‘green network’ that
provides homes and ‘highways’ for wildlife and recreational
areas for people. It also assists with managing and filtering
stormwater. Protection and enhancement is sought on
both public and private land, community involvement is
encouraged, as is the protection of landscapes, native plants,
wildlife and ecosystems.
28
At a broader level, one of the Council’s five priorities
is Sustainable Development. Implicit in sustainable
development is the maintenance of biodiversity.
The origins of sustainable development and managing
natural resources, including biodiversity, was captured
in Waitakere’s Greenprint developed in 1992 as the
Council plan of action to implement Agenda 21
principles. The Green Network strategic platform was
first adopted in 2002.
Other Biodiversity Managers in Waitakere
Auckland Regional Council owns and manages the
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, an area of 16,000
hectares (160 km2) of high country covered in native bush
which has regenerated over the last 150 years following
timber logging. The ARC supports and funds a number of
community conservation groups that protect and manage
public and private natural areas in the Waitakere Ranges.
The Department of Conservation (DoC) manages
and administers, on behalf on New Zealand, indigenous
wildlife. Approval from the Department must be
obtained for any capture, relocation and release of
indigenous animal species.
There are a number of conservation groups carrying out
pest control and restoration, mostly on public land, in
Waitakere City. These groups are assisted by one or both
of Auckland Regional and Waitakere City Council.
Many landowners undertake pest control and re-vegetation
on their own land.
Economic Instruments for Wise
Management of Biodiversity
Green Network Community Assistance Programme
The Green Network includes all the natural areas in
the city with the streams forming a network linking
the Waitakere Ranges through the urban area to the sea
along both the west coast and the east coast. The Council
provides advice and assistance in the way of plants,
herbicides and weed disposal for landowners to care for
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
the natural assets on their own private land. Covenanting
and management plans may be prepared, which include
pest control and planting programmes. There is one
full-time staff co-ordinator with an annual budget of
NZ$120,000-150,000 for landowner assistance.
Biodiversity Condition and Advice Funds
The Ministry for the Environment administers the
government’s Biodiversity Condition Fund and
Biodiversity Advice Fund with two funding rounds each
year to support biodiversity projects on private lands.
The latest round saw NZ$2.68 million awarded to
individuals and community groups.
Animal pests are an on-going challenge. The Australian
brush-tailed possum (a cat-sized marsupial) eats the
foliage, flowers and fruit of many native species
competing with native birds for food, and occasionally
destroying their nests. Rats and mice eat eggs and
nestlings and compete with native insects for food (fruit
and seeds). Ferrets and stoats prey on adult birds and
nestlings. Protecting native birds during breeding requires
on-going animal pest control through bush areas.
Pest control (both plant and animal) is labour-intensive
and therefore costly in populated areas.
2.2 BIODIVERSITY PROJECTS
Successes and Challenges in
Biodiversity Management
Revegetation and habitat restoration undertaken by Parks
and Open Spaces section of the council is progressing well
with an annual budget of NZ$638,000 (2006/07). Results
from the monitoring of bird counts, and vegetation structure
and phenology are informing the planning of habitat
restoration. Once a planting programme is started using
flowering and fruiting species, birds such as tui and kerer ū
are attracted in to feed. These bird species are wide-ranging
in search of nectar or fruit, and are the main seed dispersers
of forest trees.
The biggest challenge is pest control, which has a
budget of NZ$706,000 (2006/07). The current emphasis
for the Council is the management of environmentally
damaging weeds. These are the weeds that invade native
bush areas, out-compete the native plants and prevent
regeneration of bush. Weed clearance is followed up with
revegetation using provenance (ecosourced) plants. Weed
cleared areas require on-going surveillance for further
infestation, and new weed species are always establishing.
The Auckland climate is warm temperate to sub-tropical
with a high rainfall. This provides suitable conditions
for a very wide range of plants to establish and grow.
With the short, relatively mild winters, the growing
season extends for the whole year, leading to high
growth rates. This allows many introduced species to
naturalise and become pest species; out-growing and
displacing native species.
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
Ark in the Park
Ark in the Park is a community restoration project for
volunteers led by the Waitakere Branch of the Royal
Forest and Bird Society and supported by the Auckland
Regional Council with the goal of undertaking intensive
pest control in a 2000-hectare area of the Waitakere Ranges
Regional Park. This area will provide a ‘mainland island’
where native species absent from the area for more that
120 years can be safely returned to re-establish.
ARC supplies bait for pest control, staff expertise and
training workshops for the band of volunteers that
undertake pest control and monitoring. Brodifacoum
bait is used to target rats and brush-tailed possum. Bait
stations are set on 100 metre x 50 metre grids through
the bush and are baited between August and March
each year. There are approximately 1800 bait stations in
the Ark area. Stoats, weasels and ferrets are targeted
using 170 traps deployed in lines through and around
the Ark area. Rat numbers are monitored using lure
tunnels and recording footprints of visitors overnight.
Possum numbers have been dramatically reduced in
the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park generally through
ARC’s Project Forest Save using ground baiting with
brodifacoum and follow-up ground trapping since 1997.
Wasp control was also trialled in 2006 using bait stations
with a protein-based toxin. Introduced wasps in New
Zealand can increase dramatically in numbers and not
only present a hazard to humans and animals including
birds, but also compete with native nectivorous birds for
nectar and honeydew (excudations from the scale insects).
29
The Ark in the Park project was started in October 2003
and, by April 2006, 1100 hectares came under the
intensive pest control programme. Species released to
date include:
• 55 Whiteheads (Mohoua albicilla) from Tiritiri
Matangi island in August 2004
• 53 North Island Robin (Petroica australis) from
Mokoia Island in April 2005
• 59 Stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta) from Tiritiri
Matangi in February and June 2007.
The regular bird monitoring has shown an increase in
bird numbers over the time the project has been going.
Released species are also monitored with results showing
establishment of whitehead with new unbanded birds
sighted within and around the Ark area. North Island
robin are successfully breeding with an average of 5 chicks
fledged per adult female of the 5 pairs monitored each
season. In October 2007, a Stitchbird nest with chicks
was found – only 4-8 months after their release.
Students from Massey and Auckland Universities, Unitec
(technical institute) and Ecoquest work in co-operation
with Ark in the Park and are involved in studying survival
of species released, and morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae)
and Hochstetter’s frog numbers. Morepork (a native
owl species), is used as an indicator species to determine
any secondary effects of brodifacoum use. Brodifacoum
is used to control rat numbers and rats form part of
the prey of moreporks. Unitec students studied forest
tree abundance and fruiting and flowering to check
for suitable food sources for species to be released.
Invertebrates are also monitored using pit fall traps.
Funding for the project comes from Community Trusts,
ASB Charitable Trust, Department of Conservation’s
Biodiversity Condition and Advice Funds, the Auckland
Zoo Conservation Fund, Forest and Bird fundraising
efforts, and the ARC.
Other projects led by conservation groups or individuals
care for particular reserves or natural areas within the
Waitakere Ranges and the coast, and are involved in
pest management and monitoring. These groups are
supported by parent organisations, Auckland Regional
Council or Waitakere City Council, with advice and
grants on request.
Project Twin Streams
Project Twin Streams is an innovative partnership between
the Waitakere City Council’s Ecowater (stormwater,
wastewater and water supply services) and the local
community to combine efforts to restore the streams in
Waitakere City. The project is broad but incorporates
restoration of stream biodiversity. The overall objective is
to achieve better stormwater management, but the effect
will be to improve water quality, help restore the natural
environment in Waitakere’s suburbs and work with other
parts of the Council to help create different ways to live,
work, play and travel.
The Project Twin Streams vision is working together
for healthy streams and strong communities: creating a
sustainable future. Project goals are to:
• Improve the quality and condition of Waitakere’s
waterways – streams, rivers and harbour
• Reduce erosion and the impacts of flooding
• Reduce the impact of stormwater on waterways
• Improve biodiversity by encouraging back the
native birds, fish and small creatures which
have disappeared
• Remove weeds and restore native vegetation
• Work with other Waitakere City Council projects to:
– Facilitate people to walk, cycle, catch buses
and trains more easily
Releasing Stitchbirds (Photo courtesy of Mike Alford)
30
– Inform people how to live in their houses
and on their sections with fewer negative
environmental effects
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
– Encourage new houses and subdivisions
which are better designed
– Let local communities have a stronger say in
what happens in their areas
– Develop community spirit and connect people
with their neighbours
– Develop employment opportunities and skills
programmes for youth.
Project Twin Streams covers the stream catchments with
a mixture of rural and built-up urban areas. The project
consists of approximately 55 kilometres of stream banks
and over 10,000 hectares (10km2) of catchment area. It is
undoubtedly one of the biggest projects of its kind in
New Zealand.
Community organisations are contracted by the
Council to work with their local neighbourhoods to
help them with weed clearing, planting and monitoring.
There are five contract areas, all of which employ a
community co-ordinator.
There are 100,000 people living in the project area with
865 volunteers involved in site preparation, 168 involved
in rubbish removal, 1,571 involved in planting, and
15 schools actively engaged in the project. There have been
24 community plantings to date with a total of 300,000
plants in the ground.
Water quality monitoring
Wai Care
Wai Care is an Auckland regional programme started in
1999 that brings schools, community groups, landowners
and others together to test the water quality in local
streams. The results are used to plan practical actions to
restore, enhance and protect freshwater resources. Wai
Care in Waitakere supports 17 groups and has a full-time
co-ordinator with an annual budget of NZ$60,000 for
group support, the Wai Care website maintenance, data
management, education kits, school information packs
and regional events.
Construction has also started on the network of
pathways which will total 11 kilometres and are generally
3 metres wide. This means the pathways can be used
by mobility scooters, wheelchairs and push-chairs as
well as the usual walkers, runners and cyclists. The
restored stream environments will then be accessible to
all community members to enjoy.
Other stream care projects include Clean Streams,
Adopt a Stream and ‘Friends of’ community groups
that care for a particular stream and are supported by
Waitakere City Council.
The project is driven by Ecowater, Waitakere City Council’s
water supply, wastewater and stormwater managers, with
a team dedicated to administering Project Twin Streams.
Started in August 2003, the project will run for eight years.
The project is funded with NZ$38 million from regional
stormwater project funding plus NZ$5.2m for walkways
and cycleways, NZ$7.8m from financial contributions on
top of stormwater development contributions from the
Opanuku and Oratia catchments, and NZ$24k from
ARC and Department of Internal Affairs’ Sustainable
Communities Initiatives fund for economic social and
cultural outcomes.
Waitakere City Council’s Parks Planning team undertake
restoration projects with a budget of NZ$706,000 for plant
and animal pest control and NZ$638,000 for revegetation.
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
Parks Restoration Programme
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3. INTEGRATION
3.1 INTERACTION WITH
OTHER AGENCIES
The drafting, public consultation and final presentation
to Parliament of the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area
Bill was a collaborative effort between Waitakere City
Council, Auckland Regional Council, neighbouring
Rodney District Council, their respective communities
and the local Members of Parliament. It is anticipated
that the Bill will become legislation.
Auckland Regional Council supports and funds a
number of conservation groups that manage areas in the
Waitakere Ranges, including Piha Coast Care, Karekare
Landcare, and Lone Kauri Road Forest Restoration
Group. Waitakere City Council supports a number of
‘Friends’ groups including Friends of Whau (stream),
Friends of Waikumete (cemetery and native bush),
Friends of Kaurimu Stream and Friends of Oratia Stream.
The Waitakere branch of the Royal Forest and Bird
Society, together with the Auckland Regional Council,
supports the Ark in the Park project to re-establish native
species lost to the area since European settlement. Ark
in the Park is guided by the Department of Conservation
with its capture, relocation and release of these
threatened species.
3.2 INTERNATIONAL BIODIVERSITY
INITIATIVES
Waitakere City is one of the participating cities in a
three-year pilot project initiated by ICLEI, called Local
Action for Biodiversity (LAB). Other LAB partners
include the IUCN, Countdown 2010, the South African
Biodiversity Institute, Roma Natura and other selected
cities around the world. LAB aims to facilitate understanding and communication among decision-makers,
citizens and other stakeholders regarding urban biodiversity issues and the need for local action on the ground.
Mayor Bob Harvey and Lynne Pillay, MP
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4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
AND AWARENESS
4.1 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND ACCESS
Public participation in decision-making about biodiversity is provided for through public consultation
on management plans for public reserves, including
the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. Participation in
biodiversity management is provided for through the
many volunteer groups supported by the ARC for the
regional park, or by Waitakere City Council.
Volunteering on any of the various projects going on in
the parks from weed and animal pest control to gardening
and track work and a variety of other tasks provides work
to cater for individuals to large groups.
The Arataki Visitor Centre in the Waitakere Ranges
Regional Park is an information centre for learning about
the environment and finding out what there is to see and do
in the Waitakere Ranges. Carvings created by local Iwi (tribe)
Te Kawerau A Maki are also a feature of Arataki.
There is a nature trail of 1.6 kilometres long which
features both regenerating and mature forest, with
interpretative signs along the way describing the forest.
Both ARC and volunteers from Ark in the Park organise
guided walks. See also Section 2.2 Biodiversity Projects
and public participation in Ark in the Park, Project Twin
Streams and Wai Care.
4.2 BIODIVERSITY AWARENESSRAISING/EDUCATION PROJECTS
North-West Wildlink
The North-West Wildlink is a regional initiative which
aims to foster collaboration and communication between
local and national government, community groups and
individuals to co-ordinate conservation efforts towards
biodiversity restoration.
The goal is to co-ordinate existing and potential
restoration projects to create a patchwork of safe and
healthy ‘stepping stones’ to connect two of the region’s
biodiversity hotspots – the Hauraki Gulf Islands and
the Waitakere Ranges. The project connects local
communities with conservation projects that bring
native birds back into urban areas where they can be
appreciated by the wider community.
Raising awareness of the project and its goals has so far
been achieved through participating organisations’
websites, hosting a formal launch for the project and
advertising community planting days to bring the
communities together.
The North-West Wildlink Accord was signed in February
2006 by the Mayors from Waitakere City Council,
North Shore City Council, Rodney District Council, and
representatives from Auckland Regional Council, Forest
& Bird and the Department of Conservation, formalising
how the agencies will work together to forward the
initiative. Each party provides some funding each year
(NZ$10,000 for 2006/07 for Waitakere) for publicity and
community planting.
Underwater Life
Arataki Visitor Centre
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
There is a section on the Waitakere City Council website
under Ecowater Education that provides information,
video clips and photos for identification of native freshwater fish and invertebrates found in Waitakere streams.
The video Focus on Bugs is a well used teaching resource
for schools to bring local streams to life. A 20-minute
video, Nga Kaitiaki o te Mauri (Guardians of the Life Force),
has also been produced for use in schools to educate young
people about the importance of healthy streams for the
creatures that live in them and what they can do to look
after these streams.
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CONCLUSION
Maintaining biodiversity is not just about ensuring the
survival of rare and endangered species. It is the whole
range of different species, rare and common, and the
variation between populations within a species that is
important. Different populations of the same species,
if isolated and subject to different selection pressures
will vary over time and is the species’ insurance
against extinction. For example, the reason for using
eco-sourced or provenance plants in re-vegetation
projects is first to ensure that the local gene pool of
a species continues to survive, and secondly because
the locally sourced material is well adapted to the local
environmental conditions.
In summary, the challenge is to maintain the viability
of local populations across the range of species that
naturally occur in the region, the range of ecosystems,
and to understand their significance and facilitate
community support for and engagement in biodiversity
conservation for the long term.
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REFERENCES
Bio-what, 2000: Ministry for the Environment.
Ecological Survey of Waitakere City Lowlands, 1998:
A Julian et al.
Environment 2010 Strategy, 1995: A Statement of the
Government’s Strategy on the Environment, Ministry
for the Environment.
Native to the West, 2005: Waitakere City Council.
Te Kawerau A Maki Resource Management Statement,
1995.
The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy: Our Chance to
Turn the Tide, 2000: Department of Conservation and
Ministry for the Environment.
The State of New Zealand’s Environment, 1997:
Ministry for the Environment.
Waitakere City Biodiversity Monitoring Programme
2006/7.
Waitakere City Council Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plan, 2006.
Waitakere Ranges Ecological District Survey Report
for the Protected Natural Areas Programme, 1993:
K. Denyer et al. Auckland Regional Council.
Waitakere Ranges, 2006: The Waitakere Ranges
Protection Society Inc. Ed. Bruce and Trixie Harvey.
Printlink, Wellington.
Waitakere Rock Koromiko (Hebe bishopiana) Recovery
Plan, 1999. Threatened Species Recovery Plan.
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
35
GLOSSARY
Ecosourcing
Using plant material sourced from its locality of origin
Endemic
Occurring only in New Zealand (or specific locality)
Exotic
Imported from another country
Frugivore
Fruit-eating species, eg. kerer ū (native wood pigeon)
Hapū
Sub-tribe (Māori)
Indigenous
Naturally occurring in New Zealand
Insectivore
Insect-eating species, eg. fantail, grey warbler
Iwi
Tribe with ancestral ties to the land (Māori)
Kaitiaki
Guardian (Māori)
Kawerau A Maki
One of the local iwi in Waitakere
Mana
Prestige, authority
Mauri
Life force
Native
Naturally occurring in New Zealand
Provenance plant
Plant in its original locality of occurrence
Rohe
Area under kaitiaki or guardianship
Tangata whenua
People of the land (Māori)
Taonga
Treasure or possessions
Te Kawerau A Maki
Indigenous tribe with ancestral ties to Waitakere City
Treaty – Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand’s founding document. It takes its name from
the place in the Bay of Islands where it was first signed, on 6 February 1840. The
Treaty is an agreement, in Māori and English that was made between the British
Crown and about 540 Māori rangatira (chiefs).
Wāhi tapu
Sacred site
Whānau
Family (Māori)
ACRONYMS
ARC
Auckland Regional Council
DoC
Department of Conservation
ICLEI
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
IUCN
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
LTCCP
Long Term Council Community Plan
NIWA
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
WCC
Waitakere City Council
36
BIODIVERSITY REPORT | WA I TA K E R E C I T Y | 2007
Imprint
LAB Biodiversity Report: Waitakere City
Publisher
Waitakere City Council
Editor
Andre Mader
ICLEI, Africa
Layout and print
www.paradigm.pl.net
Printed on 100% recycled paper by The Printing Express
Copyright
© Waitakere City, 2007 and ICLEI Africa
Secretariat, 2007
All rights reserved. No part of this book
may be reproduced or copied in any form
or by any means without the written
permission of Waitakere City and
ICLEI Africa Secretariat.
Printed in New Zealand
Obtainable from
Electronic copies obtainable upon request
from:
Local Action for Biodiversity, ICLEI Africa
Secretariat
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.iclei.org/lab
Hard copies available upon request from:
Waitakere City
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Website: www.waitakere.govt.org
Acknowledgements
Ark in the Park
c/o Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
Waitakere Branch
Local Action for Biodiversity
PO Box 16548
Vlaeberg
8018
South Africa
Waitakere City Council
Private Bag 93 109
Henderson 0650
Waitakere City
New Zealand
LOCAL ACTION FOR BIODIVERSITY
PARTNERS
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